Folding card-table



E. T. BURROWIzS. FOLDING CARD TABLE. ZAPPLICATIDN FILED JUNE 7, ma.

1,304,540. Patented May27, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

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E. T. BURROWES.

FOLDING CARD TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 19m.

1,304,540, Patented May 27,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. T. BURROWES.

FOLDING CARD TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 1916.

Patented May 27, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

( al/M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD T. BUBROWES,

or PORTLAND, MAINE.

FOLDING CARD-TABLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it know that I, EDWARD T. BURROWES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Card'- Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in what is now known as folding card tables. Heretofore there has been produced what is known as the light or feather-weight card table, composed largely of fiber-board supported in a wooden frame and supplied with foldable legs. In such prior constructions it has been found necessary and expedient to employ cross bars connecting the frame-work and to serve as supports for the thin fiber-board top. Tops of such tables were usually rfectly smooth and covered with a suitable felt or cloth covering. In the prior folding card table art it was found necessary to have a table top of substantial width suflicient to permit the folding of the legs into the frame below the playing surface or top. This necessitated a table of approximately thirty inches in diameter.

In constructing tables along the prior practice considerable joining work was r quired in the way of uniting the ends of bars and securing the top to the bars, all adding materially to the expense of production.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of a folding table wherein the necessity of frame-work and cross bars is dispensed with, while at the same time a table is produced of a light feather-weight type, lighter in many particulars than the tables heretofore made and used.

A further object of the invention is the production of a light foldable card table with legs of the conventional and preferred length, but of a diameter of playing surface s or top approximating 28 inches as compared with the heretofore employed wider tops.

A further object of the invention is to provide a playing surface, irrespective of whether or not the same represents a table topor a playing board, which will be provided with suitable means which not only add rigidity to the playing surface or top, but also serves as means for facilitating the ready grasping of cards when they are to be collected from the playing surface.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919 Application filed June 7, 1916. Serial No. 102,293.

A further object of the invention is that of prov ding a single-piece, light, thin and substantlally rigid playing surface or table top which can be cheaply manufactured and WlllCll will avoid the necessity of" the employment of a multitude of associated moldlngs or parts.

Other objects of the invention will be appreclated by reference to the hereinafter described structures and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the invention;

Fig. 2is a. bottom plan showing the foldmg legs in their folded posit-ion;

F1g. 3 is a cross section through the top, the legs being omitted and the structure representing a metal form of table top or playing board adapted for use with or without egs;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of top;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of a section of the metal top;

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the construct1on shown in Fig. 5 and showing in connection with the table a fabric covering; 5

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of top;

Fig. 8 is a detail view connection;

Fig. 9 represents a top with a covering in section thereon, and,

Fig. 10 is a modified form of corner struc ture.

A'designates the table top or playing surface. This is composed of a single piece, preferably of sheet steel. In this connection it has been found that a plate of approximately 16 gage high grade steel may be satisfactorily used. The steel plate is pressed into shape, the edges B thereof being drawn down at substantially right angles to form a border as well as strengthening ribs at the edges. In the art of pressed steel as is now practised, steel plates can be drawn down at the edges without cracking or breaking at the corners, and in this connection it will be noted that the top A is provided with rounded corners a. The width of the depending flange B is conveniently from one and onefourth to one and one-half inches but this may be varied more or less. Th structure thus far described represents a hollow steel shell having the proper dimensions and with of the hinged brace a a diameter of approximately 28 inches. As

is well known in playing cards on a smooth surface, there is much annoyance and trouble in gathering the cards after a trick has been played at the center of the table and frequently, in fact, usually the practice has been to slide the cards to the edge of the table so that the thumb of the player would be projected below the edge of the card. This not only required time, but damaged the cards and has been recognized as an objectionable requirement.

To avoid the above objection the playing surface or top A is formed at or near its center with a dish-shaped part C. This may be shaped, as shown in Figs. 4.- and 5, or in any other desired manner, and represents primarily a raised ridge I) conveniently continuous and located at the center, the area within the recessed part being depressed slightly, at at D, to form a card receiver. Into this part the cards as played are thrown and when the player desires to gather the trick they are drawn to the edge of the part I) with the edges of the cards projecting beyond so that the thumb of the operator ma v be readily placed below the edges of the cards. The field outside of the card-receiving portion of the plate is conveniently fiat or may be dipped slightly, as in Fig. 4, so that the plane of the upper surface of the recessed part D will be substantially on the plane of the outer edge of the top or surface. This may be desirable when it is wished to place a' cover of any desired material over the playing surface.

In addition to forming a card receiver at the center with raised parts the construction serves to add rigidity to the otherwise relatively thin metal plate. Other forms of projections such as D may be employed, as shown in Fig. 7 wherein a series of spaced elongated projections D are shown located conveniently at points where the cards can be drawn thereonto and are so shaped in cross section that the card will move'up the sloping sides as in the form shown in Fig. 4.

To form a finish for the-lower edge of the border flange, the edge may be turned 0r beaded. as at E, the bead being inwardly bent. The beading may be outwardly disposed as shown in Fig. 7, and if desired, a covering, such as F, may be drawn over the top having its edges secured in any convenient manner at the beading. This surrounding heading in addition to constituting a smooth finish for the edge of the metal plate also adds rigidity to the structure. At the corners the beaded parts may be properly united in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

\Vhen the metal plate is employed as a card board the same may be placed over a table of any convenient form or on the top of a table. By this means the playing surface represented by the plain surface upon which the cards are dealt and the receiving central portion present an attractive and convenient playing surface onto which the cards maybe dealt and from which theymay be readily picked up without the necessity of sliding the cards a considerable distance across the metal surface.

In Fig. 2 the top or metal plate is shown provided with folding legs G of a length corresponding with the length of the usual folding card table leg which is from 26% to 27% inches. These legs are made preferably of hollow metal ware and are pivotally supported in the following manner. H represents a rigid metal bracket member formed of a band, the width of which is slightly less thanthe width of the surrounding top flange. This bracket has a- U-shaped portion it riveted or spot-welded as desired, to the depending flange B. The end of the leg G is positioned in the U-part of the bracket H and is there pivoted by a suitable headed bolt 9. One end of the bracket H is bent out at right angles and thence inwardly to constitute an attaching part it which in turn is riveted or spot-welded to the edge flange at the adjacent side of the table. The part it of the bracket has an outstanding stop part b for purposes presentlyto be described. The opposite end of the bracket part is offset, as at k and forms a means for holding the leg closed or folded, the end of a leg being positioned when folded to friction-ally engage this part h There are conveniently four of the above described brackets, one being arranged at each side of the plate top and each leg is provided with a brace I pivotally supported at I to the bracket extension h.

The brace I is loosely embraced by a pivot lip J mounted on the leg, the brace normally lying above the pivot as shown in detail, Fig. 8. By this means when the leg is opened out the brace part I strikes the stop [L2 on the bracket member which forces the brace against the pivot of the clip J and at this point there is formed a notch 71 in the brace into which the pivot moves, thereby forming a secure and stable lock and brace connection for the leg. As the legs are folded into the top within the plane of the edge flanges they are there held, as above stated, by frictional engagement with the part 7L As there is a leg arranged on each side of the top there is room for the full length leg between edges and at the same time a very compact and exceedingly light folding card table is produced.

It may be found desirable in connection with the use of the above described top to apply a cover to the same when the top is employed for serving or other purposes. This can be accomplished by placing the filler, such as shown in Fig. 9, at K, over the I do not wish to be limited to the card ele' vating projections as shown in the drawings,

as I believe I am the first to ever provide a playing surface or table top having as a part thereof or connected thereto a deflecting projection against and over which the cards may be moved so as to present their edges upwardly for grasping purposes. Of course different shaped projections may be em ployed, but the circular form illustrated is a convenient arrangement. The metal plate or top, as represented by a single piece of drawn metal, may be properly finished in any convenient manner. It is to be understood also that the depending edges may be differently formed according to the desire of the manufacturer.

It will be noted that by the employment of a single plate top the usual frame-workis entirely dispensed with while the requisite rigidity is maintained. 7

I desire it understood that various modifications and changes, in the construction I shown and described can be made and substituted without departing from the general nature and principle of the invention. As

far as I am now advised I am the first to ever providea light foldable card table with a top part composed of a single relatively thin metal plate.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired vto besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. Acard playing table top comprising a metal plate having a card deflecting projection thereon and a card receiving surface adjacent the projection, of an area suflicient to receive a card flatwise for the purposes specified.

2. A card playing table top having a substantially flatcard receiving surface, a central surface upon which the cards are played, and a part intermediate the two surfaces elevated above the plane of the same and hav-.

ing a sloping side for the purpose specified.

3. In a card playing table top having a plain area upon which cards may be dealt,

a card receiving area at the center thereof,

and a raised card deflecting part interposed between the two surfaces.

4:. A device for playing a game of cards on, comprising a metal plate having substantially flat card receiving outer portions, a

continuous card deflecting ridge, and a card receiving portion surrounded by the said ridge.

5. In a folding card table, a metal top having depending flanges and ridge portions on the top, with folding legs secured to the top and adapted to fit within the plane of the flanges. I

'6. In a card playing surface the combination with a metal plate having a card deflectingupstanding ridge intermediate the centers and the edges thereof, a substantially flat card receiving portion, and a cover member fitted over the top, substantially as described.

7 In a card table, the combination with a top having card deflecting projections struck up thereon and a filling cover removably mounted on the top.

8. In a card table, the combination with a top having card deflecting projections thereon intermediate its edges, a filling cover removably mounted on the top, and means for. I

securing the cover in place.

9. A card playing surface comprising a metal sheet having bent down edge portions, a sloping card receiving outer portion, and an upstanding annular card deflecting rigid part and a centrally disposed card receiving part, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD T. BURROWES. Witnesses:

AGNES A. MANN, JOHN H; PmRon. 

